On October 3 and 4, the Forum on the Future of Public Education is hosting an international conference on the impact of privatization and marketization on the education of disadvantaged children and communities around the globe. The conference brings together several of the world’s leading scholars to consider how market-style mechanisms such as choice, competition, or private provision can open up access to quality options for economically marginalized students, or impede educational opportunities. In order to examine how different contexts can shape the impacts of market forces on education, the set of presenters has been constructed to offer perspectives from different disciplines and nations, and include:

Prachi Srivastava – University of Ottawa, Canada

Keith Lewin – University of Sussex, the Consortium for Research on Educational Access, Transitions and Equity

Christopher Lubienski – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Murdoch University, Australia

These scholars will discuss a number of issues centered on how public policy should utilize or restrict market models in education. Audience participation is encouraged. Free registration, with complimentary breakfast and refreshments provided. To register, visit forum.illinois.edu.